Most Common Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Not all the diseases that affect the genital organs are STDs. STDs or Sexually transmitted diseases are infections that mainly spread by the act of sexual intercourse. The infections can occur in vaginal as well as oral and anal sex. Now a day, they are mostly referred as sexually transmitted infections. Previously they were also known as venereal diseases.

These diseases are very hard to diagnose as they are mostly asymptomatic when you first contract them. If they remain undiagnosed for a long duration of time, it might lead to serious complications.

Here are some of the most common sexually transmitted diseases and some information about them:

Gonorrhoea

Gonorrhoea is a bacterial infection. Patient has burning micturition, increased frequency of urination, discharge from penis or vagina, they might also present with sore throat, anal itching. This STD is very common and can be cured with a course of antibiotics.

Syphilis

It is also caused by a bacterium “treponema pallidum”. The bacterium affects not only your skin and mucous membrane; it can also infect the brain and heart. In this there is ulcer formation on the urinary and genital area of the patient. In left untreated it can result in serious complications like death of the patient.

Chlamydia

It is the most common curable STD. It is also one of the most symptomless STD. Hence it goes undiagnosed for a long duration. Patients might have burning urination and discharge from urethra. It often causes pelvic inflammation in females leading to infertility.

Trichomoniasis

It is caused by a protozoan parasite “trichomonas vaginalis”. Though it affects the females more, the males can also get affected. It causes inflammation of penis or vagina. Also it results in swelling and pain while having sex. It can be cured by oral metronidazole treatment.

HPV

Human papilloma virus is one of the most common STD. The virus after infecting remains asymptomatic in almost 90% of the patients. Many times it results in genital warts (bumpy structures on genitalia). If left untreated it results in cervical cancer. It is necessary for the women to get Pap smear screening done as per the schedule to detect cervical cancer.

Herpes

There are two types of Herpes simplex virus. I.e. HSV I and HSV II. HSV I most commonly cause cold sores. HSV II causes genital sores. Patients get a rash around their mouth or genital. This rash consists of small blisters. There is no cure for this disease but anti viral drugs can be given to decrease the viral load.

Hepatitis B and C

There are various types of hepatitis virus. Out of these HBV B and C can be transmitted by sexual contact. A long term infection of liver with these viruses leads to cirrhosis (shrinking and decrease in liver function) and also liver cancer. It is better to use a condom to avoid getting infected.

HIV

HIV is the most serious and dangerous of the STDs. It weakens the immune system of the patient. This virus attacks the CD4 cells of the body which are the primary defence of the body against a foreign agent. And it has not gotten a definite cure yet. The disease has 4 stages. These are primary infection, asymptomatic stage, symptomatic stage and the last stage is known as AIDS.

Do you think you are suffering from one? Contact your physician to find out!!